To the Editor:

The federal and state governments are incapable of regulating dangerous chemicals to effectively protect public health and the environment, and, even worse, they would not do it correctly if they could.

Federal and state agencies are captive to wealthy, powerful corporations and put their agenda and profits ahead of public health. The cumulative impact of decades of incompetent regulation is evident everywhere.

Most — perhaps all — of the freshwater fish in the United States are now contaminated with PFAS [per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances] chemicals. PFAS are used in thousands of commercial and consumer products and usually not labeled as being present. Probably every American is exposed to PFAS chemicals, which are toxic in parts per trillion and perhaps parts per quadrillion.

Most of us are aware of the recent deadly train wreck in Ohio. Reports and a video show the moving train was on fire before it derailed and exploded.

The federal government says trust the government. Why should we?

The federal government allows railroads to earn huge profits while cutting costs and safety. Vast quantities of lethal and explosive poisons pass through urban, suburban, and rural areas every day and night.

Does the government regulate the railroads or vice versa? Will the federal government conduct a thorough transparent investigation and publish a report that contains the facts, all the facts, nothing but the facts, no matter what they are and who is responsible, or will we get a whitewash with maybe a tweaking of obviously inadequate regulations?

We have a state health department that lied to us about COVID deaths three years ago. On major public health issues, the state health department is almost invisible, and often, more of a denier of serious risks than a help to poisoned and threatened people.

Norlite burns hazardous wastes in the city of Cohoes and Waste Connections dumps who-knows-what right next to the Rensselaer public school campus. The governor and state legislature pretend to not notice the health risks.

Who are the federal and state government protecting: large wealthy corporations (and campaign contributors) or the public?

If we ever needed competent government, it is now. We live in an era of accelerating climate change, massive species extinctions, the continuing threat of nuclear war, ocean acidification, widespread dispersal of PFAS chemicals, and plastics poisoning the ocean and us.

It is time for Americans to wake up, recognize the serious dangers, organize, and force governments to put public health and the environment ahead of corporations.

Tom Ellis

Albany